Libya: Why It Started. How It Might End – If We’re Lucky.

Following up on Sunday’s post, “More Thoughts on Libya – and Questions About American Policy,” let me do three things. 

First, as to why the United States went to war in Libya, here are three of the better articles I have read on the “why” behind what we are doing; they are all worth your time:

• “Why the U.S. Went to War: Inside the White House Debate on Libya” by Massimo Calabresi, posted at Time magazine’s Swampland blog.
• “Target in Libya Is Clear; Intent Is Not” by Helene Cooper and David E. Sanger in Sunday’s New York Times.
• “A Very Liberal Intervention” by Ross Douthat, also from Sunday’s New York Times.

Second, as to how things are going/have gone in the first few days, see “Libyan Attacks Intensify but Coalition Strained” by Jake Tapper, Martha Raddatz and Huma Khan at ABC New.

Third, I made the following quick comment on Egypt back on January 31, 2011:

"I am not an expert on Egypt, nor do I have any particular insight as to what is going to happen there.  However, I do believe that this could be a determining factor:  Are the leaders willing to issue orders to the police and the army to shoot their countrymen?  And are the police and the army willing to follow those orders?"

And so, here is my quick comment on Libya:  The key may be whether Moammar Gaddafi has the courage and will to fight.  If he does, this could turn into a mess.  If he doesn’t, it could be a relatively quick success.  In late 2003, after the United States and its allies invaded Iraq and captured Saddam Hussein, Colonel Gaddafi agreed to give up his nuclear weapons – because he was scared.  If he is scared again, and if he is allowed some way to escape personally, this might be a relatively short and successful war.  We can all hope so.

Comments

[Tiger Woods]

Where is Charlie Wilson when we need him !!!